Monday, November 16, 2009

/PRNewswire/ -- Sherwood Church, home of the hit independent movies FLYWHEEL (DVD only), FACING THE GIANTS, and FIREPROOF (2008's top indie film), at its Sunday evening service tonight, announced the theme and title for Sherwood Pictures' fourth movie. Senior Pastor Michael Catt, Executive Pastor Jim McBride, and ministers Stephen and Alex Kendrick--collectively the leadership team of Sherwood Pictures--made the announcement.

"The movie is about fatherhood and the title is one word: COURAGEOUS," Alex Kendrick said, briefly outlining the plot. "Four fathers who are all in law enforcement--who protect and serve together--go through a terrible tragedy," he said. "They begin looking at their role as fathers . . . and they begin challenging one another to fulfill God's intention for fathers."

That single-word title, Pastor Catt said, echoes God's call for men to "rise with courage" in their homes and as leaders. This at a time when 4 of 10 marriages end in divorce* and more than a third of all children live away from their biological fathers.

"The statistics on fatherless children are devastating," McBride said. "And because the family is the building block of society, one important place to rebuild families is through fathers who stay and lead and love."

"God led us," co-writer and producer Stephen Kendrick said to the audience of church members, many of them volunteer crew, cast, or catering in earlier Sherwood movies. "We believe God is calling men to rise up with strength and with leadership in their homes, with their families and with their children."

"For more then a year we've prayed to be sure that we're pursuing God's idea and not our own," Catt said. "With action, drama, and humor, this film will embrace God's promise in the Bible to, turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers."

Focusing on Fatherhood

"We focus on the crucial role of father; it's not just to be a father who loves his kids," said Alex Kendrick, co-writer/director of COURAGEOUS. "It's to be engaged with a purpose--to be a father on purpose."

All four leaders of Sherwood Pictures are husbands and fathers. Pastor Catt has two children; Pastor McBride has four; Stephen Kendrick has four; and Alex Kendrick has six.

More Than a Movie

Sherwood movies entertain as they touch audiences where they live, and they show the means to live more fully through faith in God. FLYWHEEL focused on compromise and business integrity; FACING THE GIANTS on despair and hope; FIREPROOF on a dying marriage rekindled.

With previous Sherwood movies, fans, churches, and organizations across the country (and world) became "partners" in the movie's impact--giving prayer support for production, distribution, and the movies' messages. Ministries and outreaches used the films in creative ways. Churches built series and group studies on the topics; Sunday schools seized the momentum of good entertainment that emphasizes life-changing truths.

"It's been the Bible's story of Jesus multiplying the boy's fish and loaves," Alex Kendrick said. "God has multiplied these movies beyond our wildest dreams."

Principle filming of COURAGEOUS begins March 2010 in Albany. Like the previous three Sherwood films, COURAGEOUS will be marketed by Provident Films.

Sherwood Pictures is a ministry of Sherwood Church of Albany, Georgia, under the leadership of Senior Pastor Michael Catt and Executive Pastor Jim McBride.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Patrick Henry, Founding Father: “It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” [May 1765 Speech to the House of Burgesses]

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

/PRNewswire/ -- "The Military BibleSticks are a hit!" said a U.S. Army Chaplain. "Please send more. We will use them all!"

This is the typical feedback from military chaplains who have requested thousands of high-tech, portable Audio Bibles for their troops from Faith Comes By Hearing.

Faith Comes By Hearing, the world's foremost Audio Bible ministry, has designed and deployed nearly 22,000 Military BibleSticks to chaplains in Iraq, Kuwait, Kosovo and Afghanistan.

The Military BibleStick is a small, digital audio player that is pre-loaded with the Audio Drama New Testament. The Military BibleStick has a low-key design to reduce visibility in low-light situations. This Audio Bible fits easily into uniform pockets and is rugged enough to withstand unpredictable weather.

"There has been a tremendous response to the Military BibleSticks," said Troy Carl, Faith Comes By Hearing's national director. "Chaplains report the young people serving in today's military aren't reading a lot, but that the 'iPod' generation is positively responding to the Bible in this audio format."

Chaplains from every branch of the military have contacted Faith Comes By Hearing and requested these Audio Bibles for their service members. Currently, more than 200 chaplains are using Military BibleSticks in pre-deployment briefings, counseling sessions, weekly chapels and other spiritual services.

"The soldiers are so pleased with the Military BibleStick," said a chaplain at an Army training base in Georgia. "Now, I have a need of more. My office is filled with soldiers requesting these. I am sorry I didn't request more from Faith Comes By Hearing. This is a God send."

"Our soldiers told me they never imagined having an Audio Bible," said an Army Chaplain at a staging base in Germany. "They are able to listen to the Word of God while doing missions. It is so easy to carry -- anytime and anywhere. This little device is helping soldiers cope with their issues and concerns during deployments."

"We've had many soldiers come to our office looking for the Military BibleStick, but we've run out," said another Army Chaplain. "The soldiers really love these; thank you for providing these for the troops."

"It's a blessing to have our young people so hungry for the Word of God. This is a wonderful way for the men and women serving our country to engage in Scripture," said Carl.

Learn how you can get involved at http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/.

Georgia Faith shares information on the happenings at Georgia churches, as well as information of interest to the community of faith. The column is sponsored by the Fayette Front Page and the Georgia Front Page. If you would like to see your church activities, special services and outreach ministries included, please add news@georgiafrontpage.com to your press release / information distribution lists.